The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled plans to connect Nigerian startups with investors, corporate organisations and potential customers, targeting a N3 billion investment pipeline for indigenous technology businesses.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at Moonshot 2026 in Lagos, where he called for a shift from digital technology consumption to developing homegrown innovations capable of competing globally.
Speaking on the theme, “Courage & Conviction, Building for a New World,” Inuwa said Africa’s technological future depended on its ability to develop indigenous solutions, intellectual property and sustainable businesses for international markets.
He noted that despite the continent’s growing technology talent, innovators continued to face challenges involving infrastructure, funding, mentorship and access to markets.
According to him, addressing these challenges requires stronger collaboration among government institutions, universities, investors, technology companies and innovation hubs.
Inuwa said NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) was designed to bridge the gaps between digital talent and opportunities, research and commercialisation, startups and capital, as well as innovation and markets.
He explained that the agency was repositioning itself to coordinate the digital ecosystem and ensure that technological innovations translated into commercially viable businesses and measurable economic growth.
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The NITDA chief stressed that the success of Africa’s innovation ecosystem should be measured by the number of sustainable businesses it produces rather than hackathons, pitch competitions and funding announcements.
As part of efforts to improve investment and market access for local innovators, he announced plans for a Builders’ Festival at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition scheduled for November 10 to 12, 2026, in Abuja.
The initiative is expected to bring indigenous startups developing solutions to industry challenges together with investors, corporate organisations and potential customers.
NITDA said the programme would target a N3 billion investment pipeline for promising entrepreneurs, clarifying that the figure represents an investment mobilisation target rather than funds already secured.
Inuwa also called for increased investment in indigenous artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, particularly in agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing and local-language technologies.
He warned against excessive dependence on imported digital applications, urging investors to support promising Nigerian technology businesses and encouraging corporations to provide startups with opportunities to deploy their solutions.
He added that government institutions must strengthen policies, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships to create an enabling environment for innovation.
Inuwa maintained that Africa’s technological competitiveness would depend on innovation, trust, and disciplined execution, urging local entrepreneurs to develop solutions that address domestic challenges while meeting global standards.
